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KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia - Travis Ganong's soccer jersey number was 7 when he was growing up, his mother said. So when he was randomly assigned to ski seventh in the men's downhill Sunday at the Sochi Olympics and he was handed the No. 7 bib, they took it as a good sign.

It turned out to be just that.

Ganong, of Squaw Valley, was the top U.S. finisher on the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center course, ending up 5th overall with a time of 2:06:64 in the first Alpine race of the 2014 Winter Games. Gold-medal favorite Bode Miller finished an unexpected 8th at 2:06:75. ...